"I can't ever ignore it," Carter said.
"I’m really sorry, Carter. I really am."
She held him close to her chest. Carter could feel her shivering slightly in the November chill.
"We should leave," he said finally.
She took out another napkin from her large canvas bag and wiped off his face.
He let her pick bits of grass and leaves off of his coat before they climbed back into the car.
Carter watched Allie's face as they drove into the little downtown of New Cardiff. In all his years of seeing her at the Wildcat, she had never seemed overly angry, frustrated, or excited. She always had an even temperament. The most excited he had seen her be was when she saw the bathtub in their suite at his uncle's house. But when the car drove into the town, her face lit up.
"Wow!" she said. "This is like a postcard."
"They’ve already started decorating for Christmas," Carter said as the driver let them off. "My mother can’t stand when they start Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, but people will want to shop tomorrow, so that’s why they started yesterday, I think."
Most of the shops were closed, so Carter and Allie strolled along the brick-paved sidewalks, looking at the elegant display windows and all the lights and decorations on the lampposts and street furniture.
"You didn’t bring anything warmer?" Carter asked Allie.
"I’m fine," she said.
He tugged at her thin jacket. "This might be enough for North Carolina, but it won’t cut it in New England."
He took off his wool overcoat.
"I'm not taking your coat," she growled.
"Good, because I’m not giving it to you." He took off the jacket he was wearing under the coat, wrapped it around her, and put his overcoat back on.
Allie hugged the jacket around herself as they walked past the Scottie Dog Groomer and Pet Boutique.
"I can’t believe Ginny’s working today," Carter said and walked in.
Allie followed behind him.
"Carter!" Ginny yelled from the back of the shop.
The whole store had high-end pet items. Ginny had married a friend of his, Eric Davenport, a couple of years before, and Carter hadn’t seen either since their wedding.
Ginny fluffed out the corgi she was grooming and ran over to give Carter a big hug.
"Are you done with the military?" she asked.
"Almost," Carter replied.
"Who’s this? Is this the famous Allie?"
"Excuse me?" Allie said.
Ginny laughed. "Kate told me all about you."
"Interesting," Allie replied. She didn’t smile.
"And what’s your name?" Ginny asked, holding out a hand for Margot to sniff.
"I found her in a trash heap," Carter said. "I rescued her."
